Philosophy Now Forum

Are we truly happy? Of course, we are all happy, but are we happy all the time? Most of us have bouts of being glad and being sad just like there is day and night. We find happiness and unhappiness as the two sides of the coin of life - but is there a way to be happy all the time? Of course there is. For those who are evolving on the happiness journey, you move from pleasure to contentment, which is a kind of joy that doesn’t end. However, in that journey of contentment and fulfillment there are still short spells of sorrow; there are disappointments, there are desires that remain unfulfilled which give us pain. But there is another way to be happy all the time, to live in that heavenly bliss called Aananda – the joy that never ends. Aananda is the joy that comes from self-realization; realization of who we truly are – we are not this body, we are not this mind, we are the divine spirit, the soul, the atman and when we realize we are that divine spirit, then our life changes. We are no more wanting, craving, desiring because we are not the body, therefore, we live without desires. We live dispassionately. We renounce and we live a life of contentment and fulfillment. The realization makes us seek the power that created us without any reason to be unhappy or live with sorrow. Aananda is that joy which comes from Nirvana. Nirvana is breaking away from life’s circle of death and rebirth and therefore, living in absolute bliss - bliss in the knowledge of the truth that God lives within. Aananda makes us realize that we are a part of that divine power called God. Seek Aananda. For if you seek Aananda and get Aananda you will eliminate sorrow from your life. Your life will be a life of unending joy. You will be one with the Creator when you get Aananda.

AiR

AiR... do you realize that you're preaching, and that people do not like being preached at unless they've chosen to go to church for it?

Although there are elements of Ananda that have resonated for me in my life... ANY "come into the light" approach seems (to me) unrealistic and possibly even disrespectful of the FULL GLORIOUS PICTURE/SCOPE of what is.

Can you or anyone tell me why we -- from our spiritual platforms -- tend to see "what is" as bad or to be transcended? Might it actually be an awesome, sacred experience just as it is (bliss, horror, all of it)? How is it spiritual for us to separate anything out?

AiR wrote:Are we truly happy? Of course, we are all happy, but are we happy all the time? Most of us have bouts of being glad and being sad just like there is day and night. We find happiness and unhappiness as the two sides of the coin of life - but is there a way to be happy all the time? Of course there is. For those who are evolving on the happiness journey, you move from pleasure to contentment, which is a kind of joy that doesn’t end. However, in that journey of contentment and fulfillment there are still short spells of sorrow; there are disappointments, there are desires that remain unfulfilled which give us pain. But there is another way to be happy all the time, to live in that heavenly bliss called Aananda – the joy that never ends. Aananda is the joy that comes from self-realization; realization of who we truly are – we are not this body, we are not this mind, we are the divine spirit, the soul, the atman and when we realize we are that divine spirit, then our life changes. We are no more wanting, craving, desiring because we are not the body, therefore, we live without desires. We live dispassionately. We renounce and we live a life of contentment and fulfillment. The realization makes us seek the power that created us without any reason to be unhappy or live with sorrow. Aananda is that joy which comes from Nirvana. Nirvana is breaking away from life’s circle of death and rebirth and therefore, living in absolute bliss - bliss in the knowledge of the truth that God lives within. Aananda makes us realize that we are a part of that divine power called God. Seek Aananda. For if you seek Aananda and get Aananda you will eliminate sorrow from your life. Your life will be a life of unending joy. You will be one with the Creator when you get Aananda.

AiR

Sure there is. You don't need to realize you are the divine spirit. You are not. There is no such thing. But you have to realize that happiness is a choice. On the one hand there is reality. And on the other hand there is your state of mind. You cannot do anything about reality. But your state of mind is in your control. Either you choose to be happy or you choose to not be happy. Reality will move on regardless of your choice. Once you understand that, and if you choose to be happy, you will be happy. Otherwise you will not.

Why not seek Ananda? Because I'd have to attach myself to an idiotic belief system.